Chapter 54: Power of the Void |
“I…” Nikra shook her head. “No, you’re right. It might be best to get this out of the way before moving on to more important matters. That’s why I pulled you here, after all. Dodging those issues won’t help anyone—not if we ever want to work together without any unnecessary conflict.”
Leo nodded absently. He had hundreds of questions, but most could wait. From what he understood, Nikra was here to stay. The smaller things could come later. For now, he needed to understand the Void—and its aspect.
The ongoing evolution would change a lot, probably more than he was ready for. But maybe, just maybe, with Nikra’s help, he could soften the impact. And the first step was understanding the Void and the influence it already had on his soul.
That’s what I get for embracing the Void’s taint. Leo let out a silent chuckle just as Nikra spoke again.
“The first thing you must understand is that Void Essence and the Void aspect are two different—but inseparable—concepts,” she said. “One can’t function properly without the other, and the other serves no purpose without the first. This can be said about any aspect really, but not to this degree. Why? Because while normal Essence can exist without aspects, Void Essence cannot.”
Nikra raised her hands, forming two floating orbs between them. One glowed softly. The other churned like a storm.
You’re making it more complicated than it probably is, but okay, I’m following for now, Leo mused as he glanced at the arm, which, not even an hour ago, was branded by the Void’s power. At least now, I think I understand why Minor Takeover took Essence from it.
“This”—Nikra gestured to her left hand, where the calm, glowing orb floated—“represents your average Essence. The energy harnessed by most survivors. It can be shaped into nearly any form or aspect. And with proper nurturing, this pure and untainted Essence holds limitless potential.”
She turned to her other hand, where a violent storm of crimson, violet, and black swirled. “This, on the other hand, is Void Essence. It can only be drawn from Voidlings, Akirians, or the very fabric of the Void itself. It shares some traits with regular Essence, but as you have already seen, it’s also capable of so much more.”
The entire Universe changed with only 10 percent of the population left…
“Void Essence is wild. Often untamable. It’s far more potent than ordinary energy, and its abilities tend to have stronger effects. In return, it’s harder to control—a fact made obvious by the crude powers of lower-ranked Voidlings,” Nikra continued explaining as if a thousand thoughts weren’t speeding through Leo’s mind.
“However, none of that matters as much as one defining trait,” Nikra stated, her eyes locking onto his. “Void Essence maintains a constant connection to the Void and its aspects. Without this connection, it wouldn’t exist at all. Or simply become your normal, ordinary Essence.”
Her gaze hardened.
“This connection—however faint—is what gives it power to corrupt, consume, and destroy. This is what the true Void is. Its essence. Its nature.” Nikra chuckled bitterly.
“So, to answer your question…” She sighed. “Yes, all Voidlings are linked to the Void aspect. But this link only manifests as strength and some enhanced abilities. Why? Because no matter how strong a Voidling is, their connection will never grow enough to let them wield the full power of the Void. They can never become one with it.”
Silence settled between them as Leo absorbed her words. It answered a lot. And yet… raised even more questions.
Could hegrow into the power of the true Void. Or was it impossible for anyone who wasn’t Nikra in her prime? Maybe, maybe not. That said, he was her Legacy.
Still, Leo didn’t press. If the potential was there, it was far off. And thinking too hard about it now would only make him worry for no reason. It was best to fish for different answers.
“You said that the Void only corrupts, consumes, and destroys,” he said slowly. “But how can this be true if it creates more Voidlings? Wouldn’t that be the opposite of what it stands for?”
“No,” Nikra muttered, her eyes downcast. “The Void will push past its limits—but only when doing so furthers its three principles. Voidlings are just a means to an end, a tool. Through their acts of killing and spreading everywhere, they accelerate the collapse of the current Universe.”
She looked up again, and her expression was as cold as space itself.
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“That is the Void’s only desire: to devour the entire Multiverse. Life against death.”
Morbid… but not wrong.
Leo’s brow furrowed. Until now, his concerns had been solely focused on his family, but Nikra’s explanation had broadened his perspective. Still, he couldn’t shake off the Traveler’s words about people living inside the Void. If that was true, then maybe it wasn’t all bad?
But what happens when there are no more universes to consume? Will the entire Void turn on those living inside it? Shit… I still don’t know enough. I don’t even have a clue how people survive there. Is it a constant fight for survival? Or are there safe places, free from Voidlings?
“Calm down, young one,” Nikra’s soft voice pulled him out of the spiral. “Indeed, there is much to worry about, and yes, there are countless unknowns. But you don’t have to face them alone. I am here, ready to be your guide and share all I know. And when we reach the limits of my knowledge, we will explore what lies beyond… together.”
Just like before, Leo shouldn’t be soothed by her words. After all, it was her fault he was in this position in the first place. Yet his shoulders slumped, the raging pool of shadows in the pit calming in response to his shift in mood.
“Good,” Nikra said with a smile. “Now, I can sense there’s one question that’s been troubling you for some time. My previous explanation didn’t ease your mind. So ask, Leo. Whatever it is, I will answer.”
He swallowed, or at least tried to. There had been a lot of questions running through his mind, but she was right. One had lingered longer than the rest. The Old One’s explanation only made him more worried.
“Right…” He muttered. “My evolution… it’s turning me into a Voidling, or well… an Akirian. I’ve been worried about what this means for me. And just for my appearance, but for who I will become. Will I still be me? Or will this connection to the Void twist me into something else? Something like those monsters out there?”
“It won’t make you a monster,” Nikra said gently, though a pause preceded her words. “But yes, there will be changes. A lot of them. You need to understand, Leo, that despite what the System told you, this evolution is far more than just a change of a trait and appearance.”
He snorted despite himself. “Wouldn’t be the first time when it decided to leave out the important parts.”
Nikra chuckled. “Yes. The System tends to do that. But not out of cruelty, never that.”
Leo raised an invisible eyebrow but said nothing. That was a topic for later. The Old One wasn’t done.
“Usually, it takes two or three evolutions to fundamentally reshape a being. But thanks to your starting race, and to a smaller degree, my shard, it took you only one. Everything about you is changing.”
“Your physiology is shifting to match that of an Akirian. Your soul is adapting to bear the weight of Void Essence. And your mind is assimilating the nature of the creature you will become.”
Each word struck Leo like a bullet to the chest.
His hollow chuckle held no humor. “Doesn’t sound like there’s much of me left.”
“That was your choice, Leo Hale.”
Leo truly had no retort to that.
Aye, it was my choice. And I can’t blame anyone else for it.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he watched the shadows in the pit dance gently.
“Adapt or die,” he muttered.
“A wise creed to live by,” Nikra said, her voice closer now. “One I wish I had followed, instead of running away from my problems. But fear not, young one. The instincts you gain will be yours—not some foreign parasite. Live with them. Master them. Adapt. And if it ever becomes too much… I will help however I can.”
Right, help. You are helpful now, but how much can I really trust you?
It was always the same issue with her. Trusting the words of someone who caused this entire mess. How much to take and how much to give…
Leo exhaled, glancing at the woman, who was now seated right next to him. He forced a small smile. “Thanks… I think.”
“I understand.” Nikra sighed, her voice soft. “If we are to stand a chance at working together, then perhaps it’s time to address the proverbial ‘elephant in the room,’ as you humans like to call it.”
Leo grimaced. Well, there went his subtlety and privacy of his mind. Not that he could complain too much—this was what he wanted to hear, after all.
“Yeah. Probably a good idea,” he muttered, giving the Old One a side glance.
Nikra pulled her knees up to her chest and nodded. “There were six of us. Born from nothing, with more power than anything else in existence… or so we believed.”
“I was the first one to appear. Geron came next, followed by others. Darkness, Void, Light, Creation, Death, Knowledge, Time, Space, Power, Chaos, and finally, Destruction. Eleven primal aspects of the Multiverse. Split between the six of us.”
Leo perked up. “So one of you only had a single aspect?”
Nikra nodded. “My youngest sister,” she began, her voice tinted with pride and sorrow. “Her sole affinity was Power. But that didn’t make her weak—far from it. While to mortals we embodied the concept of infinite energy, my sister was the same to the five of us.”
Leo shuddered. “That’s… terrifying?”
“Quite so. And her aspect matched her temperament perfectly,” she elaborated, smiling faintly before shaking her head. “But I digress. We had dominion over the Multiverse, but we craved a home. And so, Universe Prima was born, our foothold, one we filled with life from across existence.”
“For a long time, all was well. Yes, there were disagreements, even fights, but in the end, it never reached the point of… of…”
Nikra trailed off, and Leo picked up the thread, knowing well where it was going. “…of no return. Like the war between you and your siblings.”
She nodded, hugging her knees tighter. “It was all my fault,” she whispered, and Leo averted his gaze.
“I thought I could suppress the Void. Lock it away, and throw away the key. But that’s impossible, and my fear—fear of my own power—ended up destroying everything I loved.”
“Bit by bit, the Void seeped into me… and those around me. I was affected the most, but normally my siblings would never push me away, not without trying to help first.”
“Everything started small. Petty disagreements turned into small fights. And the first major conflict unfolded into the tragedy you are well acquainted with.”
Nikra sighed. “All of it happened due to my foolishness. And subtle whispers of an entity nearly as, or even better, connected to the Void than I am.”
Leo’s eyes shot wide, his head snapping toward the woman. Another being who could control the Void and was powerful enough to manipulate six gods?
Please tell me I misheard…